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| Potential Value of Mine Victims Needs Assessment |
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| Conducting a mine victims needs assessment can provide valuable information for defining the extent of the need for services and the particular types of medical and rehabilitation services required. These detailed surveys generally focus on landmine/UXO survivors but can also gather information on other victims, such as family members of those injured or killed in accidents. The data collected can augment the accident data collected by a mine action center and thus also be of use to those working in mine clearance and MRE activities. However, certain precautions need to be taken in order to ensure the effectiveness of the survey process and its results. Several countries have now conducted or are conducting such needs assessments (among them, Azerbaijan, Guinea-Bissau, Lebanon, Tajikistan). Based on their experiences, several recommendations can be made for planning and conducting a mine victims needs assessment. |
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1. Careful advanced planning is required. Effective planning means the survey will obtain the information required and reduce the possibility that additional surveying of survivors will be needed in the future. All stakeholders should be identified and engaged in the planning process. Clear objectives for the needs assessment should be written and agreement reached about how the results will be used and disseminated, including ways to protect against the unnecessary release of personal information. Logistical issues such as how many surveyers are needed, what type of training is required, and how the data will be managed and stored should be considered.
2. Make use of existing data before collecting additional data. What sources of data on landmine victims, survivors and persons with disabilities are available? What information do they provide? How can different sources of data be integrated? Once such questions are answered then the need for additional information can be determined.
3. Limit repeated surveying of survivors and other victims. Be aware that the act of surveying people can raise their expectations that services will be forthcoming. Make plans to provide some services to meet the needs of survivors. Be clear in communications with those being surveyed, and be careful what is promised to them so that expectations are not unduly raised.
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